Stories from Sunday, September 1, 2013

Two men -- one left lying by his smashed motorcycle as the driver who hit him sped away -- died in separate Bedford County traffic accidents early Saturday. David Brown, 41, of Flat Creek died at the scene when his motorcycle was struck by a sport-utility vehicle at the Lane Parkway-Colloredo Boulevard intersection at 2:26 a.m., Shelbyville police said...

Billy Pugh was recently showered with gifts from friends and family while celebrating his 50th birthday at Carraba's in Murfreesboro. (Submitted photo)

In 1966 John Lennon made the infamous quote that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus"-- a quote that was probably more accurate than most at the time wanted to admit. I would say I've never seen young girls cry hysterically in the presence of Jesus, but I did watch Jesus Camp...

My recliner sure is getting crowded these days as all three of my granddaughters want to sit with Papa at the same time. If I'm holding Baby Jolie, it's not long and Sister Kori has to get in the act, and then along comes Cousin Charli. It's all the more fun for dear old Grandpa though...

Dr. Charity Samantha Fitzgerald and Dr. Quyen T. Vo were married on July 22 at Skyline United Church of Christ in Oakland, Calif. Dr. Fitzgerald is the daughter of Mary Anne Hall and Larry Fitzgerald of Keswick, Va. She is the granddaughter of the late James H. and Mary Jordan Hall of Shelbyville...

Tanya Barbara Hoffmann of London was married to William Austin Brooks of London on July 18 at St. Paul's, Hammersmith, London. The couple met in the spring of 2012 when both were working in Dodoma, Tanzania. The bride is the daughter of Rainer and Jenny Hoffmann of Christchurch, New Zealand. She is a graduate of University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand...

Men and women who participated in World War II are often referred to as part of "The Greatest Generation," as television journalist Tom Brokaw did in his 1998 book by the same name. "They are the greatest generation any society has produced," according to his writings. They are a "generation of towering achievement and modest demeanor."...

Kelly Barber, right, helps Heather Blackwell enroll her children, Falynne and Aurey (not pictured) in the Homeschool Enrichment Program last Tuesday at First Baptist Church on Depot Street. The Christian program is run by mothers who homeschool their children and provides classes and fellowship for the families. The weekly classes start Sept. 10. (T-G Photo by Jason Reynolds)

Vehicular assault and DUI charges have been filed against a driver in a two-vehicle collision Thursday on U.S. 231 North near the entrance to Candlewood Estates subdivision. Mary Ann Reed, 70, of Candlewood Estates was arrested several hours after she pulled from the subdivision onto U.S. ...

We got a message last week through Facebook: "I'm writing the T-G to inform you that [name of organization] is planning to hold a demonstration in Shelbyville on [date] against Southern Demographic Displacement." Well, isn't that charming! Kind of retro, I think. ...

Gnarled, wrinkled hands push the lawn mower...or plow...or tractor. Sweat pours from the brow of the old man who's spent his life helping feed others as well as his own family. In a nearby farmhouse, his wife shuffles to the kitchen,smiling at a wall full of photos ad mementos of a hard-working life -- and, of course, grandchildren -- as she passes. ...

Members of the Shelbyville Central High School Class of 1963 are continuing to search for classmates who have been out of touch. The Class of 1963 have a 50th anniversary reunion planned for Nov. 2 at Riverbend Country Club, and they are looking for information about Jo Ann Crosslin Kirkland...

Friends and Family FCE Club met on Aug. 13. Donnetta Hurt reported. Kathy Lambs gave the devotion, "Nature Brings Me To My Knees." Business: Officers elected for 2014; dues collected for 2014; reminders given on Lunch & Learn for noon on Aug. 28 and county wide meeting at 4 p.m. on Sept. 24; information provided for state convention in Franklin on Nov. 11-13...

Dear editor, I wanted to take a minute to sincerely thank you for your article (Help them walk on: Support the Celebration, Aug. 29) in the Times-Gazette. Born with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, I didn't participate in many school sport/recreational activities. I started riding horses. I started riding quarter horses as a form of therapy for my cerebral palsy...

Beech Grove native Leah Hulan, a former Miss Tennessee, will speak Sept. 17 at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski about her book, "Pain Behind the Smile: My Battle with Bulimia." The presentation, set for 7 p.m. in Martin Hall Auditorium, is free and open the public. ...

CHATTANOOGA -- Momma said there'll be days like this. The Community Vikings (0-2) came out with a solid game plan against the Silverdale Academy Seahawks on Friday night and delivered a key stop on the game's opening possession, but things soon spiraled downward for the Purple and Gold and the Vikings suffered a tough, 36-0 loss...

Webb's home opener went just about as well as expected. The Feet offense proved too potent for visiting Aaron Academy and Webb was able to collect its third win on the young season, 48-6. Aaron Academy just couldn't stop Rio Russell. Though held scoreless through the first quarter, the Feet offense got heated up in the second and Webb was able to pile up 28 points...

The rivalry continued Friday night as the Cascade Champions and the Forrest Rockets traded blows until the final seconds of the game. The Champions' Tristan Soloman recovered a fumble as the clock ticked down to help preserve a 21-19 win. "We hadn't won this game in three or four years, so it was a big ball game for us," Cascade coach Kenny Parker said...

Shelbyville Central scored 21 points in the first quarter, then added 20 more in the fourth in a 41-16 victory over visiting Warren County in a non-district matchup Friday night. It was the fifth consecutive win for the Eagles over the Pioneers and the ninth in the last 11 meetings...

Safety improvements are planned for six rural routes in Bedford County, according to bid solicitations made by the state this week. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) released proposal contracts for bid letting -- detailing work to be done on the Fairfield Pike corridor, Horse Mountain Road, Warner Bridge Road, Unionville Road, Nashville Dirt Road, Knob Creek Road, and a number of streets connected to the routes...

The line started well before the doors opened to First Baptist Church Thursday, as hundreds of folks waited for the Manna Mission food truck to be unloaded. It's the second event the church has held this month, and according to associate pastor Jeff Rasnick, a truck from Second Harvest Food Bank dropped off tons of items to be given away to the community...

The Fourth of July may have been too wet for fireworks, but things will be popping starting at 9 p.m. Monday at H.V. Griffin Park. The fireworks display is jointly sponsored by Shelbyville and Bedford County. Constant rains earlier this summer dampened the annual tradition, but city manager Jay Johnson told the T-G Friday that the show will go on...

Just hang out

I Am José, Casey Wright up won the World Grand Championship early this morning, closing out the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. The entry is owned by Billy and Debbie Woods of Lexington. The entry qualified for World Grand Championship competition by winning the 4-Year-Old Stallion class. Most World Grand Champions in recent memory have come from the class for stallions 5 years and over...